Election Day Is Upon Us! And November Updates from the County Board

Election Day 2016 is nearly upon us. I'm sure that, just like Joe, you've made your voting plan for tomorrow. But here's some last minute information to help you:

Vote: Polls will be open in Arlington tomorrow from 6 am to 7 pm, and if you need assistance in any form, our Arlington Elections team is here to help. Visit https://vote.arlingtonva.us/ for information about your polling location, accommodations, and the photo ID law.

Volunteer: It’s still not too late – if you’d like to greet voters with a sample Democratic ballot at a polling place around town, email Democratic organizer Becky Dick (becky.dick@gmail.com).

Support Arlington’s Capital Planning Future: We need your support on four critically important bond questions on the ballot this year: Metro and Transportation; Community Infrastructure; Local Parks and Recreation; and Schools. Learn all about the projects included in each referenda in this month’s issue of The Citizen available in PDF here and starting on page 7, and please Vote Yes.

And do be sure to join the Arlington County Democratic Committee at Sehkraft Brewery in Clarendon once the polls close at 7 pm. I’m hopeful we’ll be raising a glass not just to our first woman President, but to our great local victors, too, including my colleague Libby Garvey and School Board candidates Nancy Van Doren and Tannia Talento, as well as Congressman Don Beyer.

Closer to home…

Launching the Joint Facilities Advisory Commission. It’s been a fall of close work with my School Board counterparts, particular among the four of us serving on the new Joint Subcommittee on Facilities. And later this week, the County Board will vote on formal adoption of a charge for a citizen advisory body (with the School Board soon to follow). The new “JFAC” will have a major, important task ahead and we are still seeking members for appointment.

If you’re interested in the short-term needs and long-term vision for schools, provision of environmental services, play fields and parks and other facilities issues, we could use your expertise. Especially if you’re a renter – renters tend to be underrepresented in our advisory bodies, and have a much-needed point of view on how housing trends in the County can shape facilities demands. Submit your name now through November 16th.

Improving Services for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivors. Arlington, and the region, has some good news in our efforts to improve our community response to sexual violence. This summer, I was pleased to coordinate elected officials from six Northern Virginia jurisdictions in a statement of support for Inova Hospital’s Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team to fund full-time Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners with a state grant. Nationally, shortages of SANEs can lead to long wait times or even diversions for brave survivors of assault and domestic violence who come to hospitals for evidence collection and medical services, and Inova FACT, which serves Arlingtonians, has been no exception.

We were thrilled to learn that the grant has been awarded. New funds will allow INOVA to develop a unique model of full-time Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners able to provide 24/7 and medical services, testify in cases and educate other health care providers. These full-time SANEs will also be a critical first step in the ultimate goal of bringing more services into Arlington as well as the region.

Regulating Towing. The commercial towing business in Arlington is often in the news, and the Board is currently reviewing our County Trespass Tow Ordinance. We’ve heard from the General Assembly, which unfortunately mandated that we raise towing fees this year, and we’ve heard from the Trespass Tow Advisory Board (TTAB) – now we want to hear from you.

On Saturday, my colleagues and I voted to advertise more aggressive consumer protections, such as requiring more signage identifying parking restrictions, requiring that towers take photos of a car’s current condition before hooking up a tow, and requiring a second authorization from retail and office property owners prior to a vehicle being towed. We’ll have a public hearing at our December 10 meeting. Learn more, and share your thoughts on the draft revised Towing Ordinance, by visiting this link: https://topics.arlingtonva.us/towing/private-property/.